Huion kamvas Pro 16 2.5K review & Wacom Cintiq comparison // FIRST IMPRESSIONS

[@adh6886]

With Wacom and Huion always uninstall drivers of one before installing the other. You can’t have both on system at the same time otherwise you would run into issues as mentioned. My guess is you still have your Wacom drivers on when you installed Huion tablet.

[@SketchedbySte]

Thanks for the tip. Unfortunately I already tried that, from memory I just had one on at a time installed when I made this video. I will double check just to be safe though 👍

[@AndyBaedal]

Nice review. Very detailed. Thank you mate

[@SketchedbySte]

Realy glad you liked it, thanks for watching!

[@bortiz11]

This is helpful. As a newbie, and using it for photography editing and very minor drawing, pricing plus specs lead me to Huion. I'll probably buy it tomorrow. I'll update later!

[@SketchedbySte]

Thanks for watching, really glad it could help! Yeah I agree that the Huion Kamvas is probably a good option for you! Let me know what you think to it :)

[@Drumaier]

Nice video. The initial activation force is what keeps leaving huion behind wacom.

[@SketchedbySte]

yeah that's a good way to describe it! Thanks for watching

[@jamesheller7312]

very useful review, light pen pressure is really important parameter for me. But i think wacom can pick up every little stroke because you use different options, you even shows it at 8:55

[@SketchedbySte]

Hey. Thanks for watching ,did you watch all the way through with sound on? I mention a few times ( Unless I cut it out by the end sorry I forget ) that I tried all different settings and variations / pen pressure for both tablets and it made no difference to the very lightest of touches in terms of: if it was too light on Huion ( and I do mean VERY light) it simply was not picked up. Wacom Cintiq picked it up every time regardless of the setting and that was with a screen protector on it too which can't help. I also got hold of a second pen to test on the Huion and the result was the same, I even contacted the company and eventually they said there isn't anything that can be done, it's just how it is. Sorry if I have misunderstood what you meant.

[@jamesheller7312]

@@SketchedbySte Oh, got it. Also I wanted to ask is this screen tablet has anti-glare screen protector or it has anti-glare etched glass?

[@SketchedbySte]

@@jamesheller7312 Hmm, I'm not actually 100 percent on that I may have to double tcheck that myself. You don't apply any screen protector and it doesn't show any signs of one on there, so I would assume it's the glass, but I would only be guessing I need to do some research. I hear that it's a much better screen compared to the XP pen if that means anything too

[@jamesheller7312]

@@SketchedbySte i have contacted with the Huion official store, they said that 16" version has AG glass. Also i bought it by myself and it really has glass. Which is much better than AG film, because for some reason anti glare film causes the pen to scratch the tablet drawing surface.

[@ThePamster]

Great review! Did you keep it? A year later do you still use it? I've been looking to get a new pen display this year, and the researching phase is maddening! If one is looking for a budget tablet coming from say an Intous pen one, what would your recommendation be for a intermediate artist looking to break deeper into digital art? I'm frustrated because I feel Wacom's pricing is really beyond my range in the 16" devices they have, but I would like a 16" tablet. I looked at the new Wacom Movink, but I'm concerned it won't work with my GTX 1050 and I will end up disappointed. I would jump on the cintiq 16 but I question the durability and longevity of the screen, but the pricing is better. FHD in a 16" or at worst a 13" is what I'd be willing to accept, as the CIntiq 16 doesn't have touch, if it did have touch, like the Movink that'd be a plus. Also Window OS, not sure on the usability of the C ports on my device; like do they do video and data? I don't know. But I have a lot of ram as I've upgraded it recently. Thanks in advance for any advice on this.

[@SketchedbySte]

I did keep it and still use it yes :) I think ultimately, if the differences between them are quite minor or subtle, then it doesn't matter a huge amount, as you just get used to whatever you work on in my experience. I still think Wacom are the best, but it's a negligable difference for most people, and the price jump is pretty huge, so I guess it could be argued that it's down to how much cash you have spare. I will admit I absolutely loved my wacom cintiq 13 hd, and that was a much older model now. Regarding the screen I had that one for close to 10 years ( with a screen protector on ) and I never had any issues in terms of screen damage etc. I haven't actually bothered putting a screen protector on my Huion this time round, and so far no scratches or issues ( I think you get a year warranty or so with it too ). In terms of the specs and compatibility of the hardware for each tablet though, unfortunately I couldn't help with that, your best bet would be to send them an email to check. Let me know what you go for - good luck, don't over think it and stress yourself out like what I did with all the content out there, you have made a good decision, whichever you go for!

[@natashabaker4530]

Thanks for the review. Great insight into the differences between the 2 tablets. I was really suprised to see the difference in how well they pick up the light pen strokes! But 100% feel like the smaller border on the huion is a much better use of space.

[@SketchedbySte]

Thank you for watching / commenting. Yes the smaller desk space required for Huion Kamvas tablets definitely is a pro when comparing to most of the Wacom cintiq screen tablets!

[@ReadyMack-g]

@@SketchedbySte hows the pen holding up?

[@SketchedbySte]

@@ReadyMack-g hey, so far still like new, no issues with the pen so far!

[@ReadyMack-g]

@@SketchedbySte does it still have the light touch issue? or did they tweak the driver

[@SketchedbySte]

@@ReadyMack-g oh sorry I am with you now. No there haven't been any changes I am afraid. Not for this model at least ( They have brought out a new screen tablet very recently but I don't know if the sensitivity will be different ) I have noticed though that it doesn't seem as bad in other programs like clip studio paint, it's Photoshop where I notice it the most weirdly

[@garyerazo2795]

Thanks, there are good points. For example, the pens. I still do not know which tablet to buy

[@SketchedbySte]

Thanks for watching! What are your options at this stage? swaying towards anything currently?

[@Gabriel-vj9dm]

I watched all the possible videos about tablets a few days ago. Hours of Cintiq, Huion, XPPen. I was willing to pay even for the Wacom. I decided on the Huion Pro16 2.5k and the S pen to try it out. Regarding the sensitivity, I have to say that it is true that leaving the pen on top of it does not draw by itself, but this happens with the traditional technique with a pencil or a pen with a really light grip. I think that the Huion, due to its price and response time of the pen (300 pps), beats both of them. As a positive point in favor of Huion, the "normal"/(2 grams preasure) sensitivity of drawing when touching the screen avoids those ghost/residual strokes when lifting the nib.

[@SketchedbySte]

Yeah for the price I think Huion is a better choice for most, and most people won't work as light as me so the sensitivity issue I have won't be on most peoples radar anyway luckily!

[@HoomanACE]

I'm extremely light handed when drawing and have never had issues with the Huion, I also change my pen pressure settings when I know I'm going to be drawing very light

[@SketchedbySte]

Yeah I can't imagine it would effect many people. It is noticable to me though, being as light handed as I am for sketching, at least when coming from a Wacom any way, even when trying every pressure setting, it is noticable to me, but not enough to put me off for the price different. Thanks for watching and commenting

[@HoomanACE]

I agree still a great product it just isn't for everyone and Wacom does make some great products I've just always had Huion so I'm use to it by now @@SketchedbySte

[@laesy]

​@@SketchedbySte I think there is something wrong with your pen or drive, as soon as I touch the pen, even holding back the maximum I can, it will register

[@SketchedbySte]

@@laesy they sent me other pens to try. I suppose it could technically be my tablet but I'm pretty sure they would have said so when I suggested it to them. They just said its the limitation of their software. As mentioned it wasn't a realistically light touch for most people so negligible. Of course I could be wrong like you said though you never know

[@Night_Wouf]

Good review! 👍 I am going to buy one in december

[@SketchedbySte]

Glad I could help! Let me know what you think to it when it arrives :)

[@Night_Wouf]

@@SketchedbySte OK! 💜

[@erzeichnet]

I bought the Kamvas 22 Plus, which also uses the PW517 pen. At first I always wondered why my thin lines were broken until I tested it more closely. The IAF (initial activation force) of the PW517 is far too high for me because I don't press hard either. No settings in the driver helped. I'm really considering sending it back because of this. I'm otherwise happy with the 22 Plus, but this "small" detail has been bothering me for 3 days now. Maybe I'll get a Wacom 16 Pro. However, I was actually completely satisfied with the size of the 22 Plus. Really annoying.😂

[@SketchedbySte]

I'm glad it's not just me then, as that's the only real issue I have with it ( not that I am glad you have the problem.. but I thought people would think I was being too picky! ) I must admit though it hasn't been as big of an issue now that I am used to it, if that helps at all. But yeah I was in the same boat initially not knowing if I should keep or send it back. I always find it a real pain that Wacom don't have something in between their mid range size, I am always hoping for an 18-20 ish inch dispatch tablet, one that's pretty big but I can still fit on my desk XD. Let me know what you decide to do!

[@erzeichnet]

@@SketchedbySte Thanks for the reply.😄 I still have until the end of January to test the 22 plus. Let's see if it disrupts my workflow or if I get used to it.😅 It would also be nice if Wacom lowered its prices. 😂Wacom's pen is still the best on the market, but the competition has pretty much caught up with the rest of the hardware and software.

[@gamesdog9067]

What do you think of it now in 2024? I’m considering one mainly for the price but I’m thinking the lack of light draining sensitivity would also wind me up.

[@SketchedbySte]

Hey thanks for watching. Hmm, I still would say Wacom is better, but the price different is just so drastic for the difference in the tablet. I also started having driver issues with my Wacom towards the end so I had to swap across to something really. I think the reality is that you get used to whatever you use, so I wouldn't let the light pressure sensitivity put you off. It is very minor, I tend to be quite picky with things like that. They also just released a new 19 inch Huion tablet I think, I would love to try that, maybe the light pressure sensitivity will have improved too? I'm not sure.

[@dariusv9015]

I am reviewing Huion products. the Wacom is killing me in the budget format😭 I want to work on a tablet and study 3D. what about Huion? 🤔🤔🤔

[@SketchedbySte]

I think jts worth trying yeah, maybe check their returns policy maybe they will allow you to send huion products back within 30 days if its not compatible for you? (I haven't checked)

[@biscotto_black6536]

A really nice review. I'm in your same situation. I have a wacom 13HD and was thinking of upgrading to this huion 16 2.5K. Do you think it's worth it? I feel that the 13 screen is a bit tight for me, however I have seen that the sensitivity of the huion is not the best, and I too sometimes use very little pressure. The idea of grain on the screen annoys me. I wanted to increase the resolution, not end up with a worse than 13HD. Maybe it's better to stay in wacom and opt for the 16 inch from wacom? Although I like the buttons on the tablet. Help! P.s. I've never had a problem with wacom though, not even once. I have always updated the drivers and they have always worked fine. I'm on windows.

[@SketchedbySte]

you sound literally EXACTLY the same as me haha. Honestly I am still undecided even now, I don't 'regret' it, and I am enjoying the Huion so far, the grainy screen thing hasn't actually bothered me or been noticeable since, weirdly, so don't let that stop you. However, there are little imperfections I notice sometimes when drawing, I'm not sure if it's a driver issue but small things like a dot on the page before the line from the pen, it's not enough to put someone off buying it though. I'm possibly the most indecisive person in the world, so I might not be the best person to ask BUT, I would say, if you are content with a 1080 screen resolution on a 16 inch tablet ( mayve see if there is anywhere near you that has display models?), then only upgrading the size and nothing else - you could get the wacom cintiq 16 inch at 1080p resolution. I was told by people that going above 13 inch, that a 2-4k screen would be needed. I have since found out that many of my favourite artists use the old 21 inch ( or something like that ) that's 1080, so I'm not convinced that 2.5k is needed for 16 inch. I think whichever you go with you will be happy though, so don't let it stress you out too much, like it did me! Let me know what you go for and good luck!

[@biscotto_black6536]

@@SketchedbySte Thanks so much for the sincere reply. Aesthetically, this huion seems very beautiful to me, which I noticed does not have the black bands like the wacom (which take up a lot of space and it is something I hate, having a relatively small desk as a workspace). At home I already have a wacom 16 from my brother. Maybe I'll do some tests with that, but without side buttons and without support... I don't find it very comfortable. I will see in the future. Maybe I could buy the huion, and then if necessary, return it to amazon if it doesn't convince me. Anyway, thanks again. I hope it turns out to be a worthwhile purchase that won't let you down. Greetings from Italy and good luck to you too!

[@KingKiller12O_]

hi, Thanks for the review, i have been thinking on buying this pen display however im not sure about the screen brightness and the texture you mentioned. is the texture bad? is there a way to discribe it? and the brightness is it bright or dark on max brightness?

[@SketchedbySte]

The texture to the screen is just a subtle 'noise' texture to it, you wouldn't notice where there is colour, it's more just if you have a white canvas loaded up and really look at it you can see it, almost like a screen protector (that may be essentially what it is, but don't quote me) but no - you won't notice it unless you are looking for it and it won't bother you realistically. In terms of the brightness, it's worth noting I have mine set less than 50% of the max brightness setting, which for my eyes is too bright (for my set up, room lighting etc) so I have never put the brightness up even close to 100%. Again, to me that means it has a plenty large enough range of dark to light settings, so I wouldn't let that influence the decision either, but I understand everyone is different. Hope that helps, thanks for watching

[@KingKiller12O_]

​@@SketchedbyStethanks for the reply Also another question, do i need a screen protector or is it alright the way it is? And some people complained about purple/pink light on the edge of the screen when they put a white screen, is it there or is it just a defect in their product?

[@brendanschwartz2198]

I have an older kamvas pro 16, it’s getting this weird lagging effect all of the sudden when drawing in photoshop, I know it’s my pc it doesn’t have any issues with the brush tool until I use the tablet. Have you ever heard of this before?

[@SketchedbySte]

Hmm, I haven't specifically had it since getting my Huion Kamvas, but I must admit I was having issues with the Cintiq in Photoshop before I swapped, but I believe mine was actually a Photoshop issue and not the tablet itself, because I didn't notice it with other programs. Have you tried anything else like Manga studio / Clip studio paint? or even some free ones like Krita etc? just to rule out whether it's the tablet or Photoshop? I'm sure you have already tried this, but reinstalling your tablet often helps / re installing the drivers. Let me know how you get on. Thanks for watching

[@mx338]

If you have a modern laptop laptop, with a USB-C port you will likely be able to use just one USB cable to connect your laptop.

[@SketchedbySte]

Im on desktop for now and probably still using the older ports unfortunately! Hopefully will come i handy when i need upgrade though thank you!

[@eboi5575]

Thanks for the review , awesome

[@SketchedbySte]

You're welcome, glad you liked it :)

[@ragecandy]

Did you ever try the new slim pen? Supposedly has better activation force

[@SketchedbySte]

Hey, I haven't actually but that is a great suggestion, I just looked on amazon, the picture looks pretty much the same as the regular pen but would I be right in thinking this it the one? (HUION PW550S Slim Digital Pen Pentech 3.0+) - amzn.to/3uiJLpC

[@ragecandy]

@@SketchedbySte Yeah they claim better iaf in their promo videos, I'm still using an older 2019 huion cause I tried the 22 plus and was missing softer strokes, but been trying to find out if it's true that pen is better

[@SketchedbySte]

Thank you for sharing the info, I will try look for the promo video you mentioned and maybe send them a message to check, I must admit I am quite tempted now. If I do manage to get one I will try post a video if I can make it worthwile!@@ragecandy

[@KingKiller12O_]

Hi, does the pen display needs a screen protector? And some users complained about pink/purple colour from the edges and corners, is it there?

[@SketchedbySte]

Hey. So I have always put screen protectors on EVERYTHING I use, my phones, my old drawing tablets (cintiq 13 HD wacom ) but because this one was a little cheaper, I decided for once I would not bother, and would try get the full effect / texture as intended, as apparently it sort of has one built in already. I used to hear people saying it can lose some of the touch sensitivity by having one on as well ( although I never had issues) So in short I didn't bother this time and I haven't had any scratches or damage at all to the screen so far. As for lights in the edges / corners of the Huion kamvas tablet, it's not something I have noticed or can see. But if you let me know specifically where to look and if I need certain lighting on screen for it etc I will take a look!

[@KingKiller12O_]

@SketchedbySte i just got the huion kamvad pro 16 2.5k few hours ago Took me some time to set up and calibrate the screen The noise isnt as bad as i thought it would be, it is noticeable when i think of it otherwise its like its not there. As for the pink bleed on the edges, it doesnt seem like it is there in mine. Im still learning how to use it and draw, moving from traditional art to digital art, so far everything is good. Thanks for the reply

[@KingKiller12O_]

So far the only issue is that the screen is slightly blurry than my laptop (2.5k screen)​ but its not that big of a deal @SketchedbySte

[@SketchedbySte]

@@KingKiller12O_ yeah I did think it wasn't 100% as crisp as I was expecting for a 2.5k but I put that down to the minor 'noise' texture, but like you said, it's pretty negligable, I just have a tendoncy to overthink and over prepare people! Let me know how you get on with it - Good luck !

[@KingKiller12O_]

@SketchedbySte i was also kinda concerned about the brightness because huion stated that it is 220 nits but it is really good even when the brightness at 50%

[@wisteria4113]

For goodness sake i've just bought a rds220 to replace a cintiq and the pen behaves like in your test around min 8:35 , I'm SO bummed. I am super light handed because I used to have carpal tunnel when i was younger and everyone kept advising me to lighten my grip... I got so used to being able to draw extra think lines and thick ones with the same brush size, what do i do, not only is this uncomfortable af but could it give me carpal tunnel again in the future? damn it sounds dramatic, but i'm so bummed wtf

[@SketchedbySte]

Hey sorry for the delay. Yeah I'm really light handed too, and after working with the Wacom Cintiq and it allowing me to be so precise whilst working light, I think I became even lighter handed ! lol It's good to know I'm not the only one, as others don't seem to pick up on the issue. Like you, for me, pressing harder ( doesn't even have to be THAT hard though ) does seem to cause my issues in my wrists. I couldn't comment exactly on whether it will trigger your issue or not, as it will depend on the tablet sensitivity for the RDS220 - not one I have heard of. How are you finding it so far? This was basically my only real issue with the Huion Kamvas Pro, otherwise it would be as good as the Cintiq for a fraction of the price!

[@nasolex5737]

I am a newbie in digital painting, I am looking for a digital tablet that has a screen and has a reasonable price. My friends introduced me to the brand Wacom, but those with a screen are very expensive I can afford only cintiq 16 . I searched and found Huion Kamvas 13 - 16 2.5k and it has a very good price. , and is the Huion brand good for long term use 2-5year ?

[@SketchedbySte]

Hey, thanks for watching. That's a good question but unfortunately I have only had it a few months at this stage so I couldn't say how long they last on average. I think they come with 2 years of warranty with the company / Huion, and as mentioned in the video, I can still say that my Wacom cintiq device still works very well and is about 8 years old, I also haven't had to change the nib on the pen yet either which is crazy! You could always get the 1080 version of the wacom on either a 13 or 16 inch device to save some money if you want a wacom - they also have a Wacom One device which I think is a budget screen, but don't quote me as I don't know too much about that. If you are wanting to save money though you could always get a Huion ( or even an Xp pen tablet) in 13 inch or 16 inch, again going for 1080 is fine in those sizes I think! and then if it only lasts a few years, as a worst case scenario, at least you haven't lost much. Honestly, if you haven't had a tablet before, you will get used to whichever you use, so I would personally go for a cheaper one. As mentioned in the video I used the 13 inch for many years and I absolutely loved it, so don't feel you need to go bigger screen size and resolution, especially for your first tablet. Good luck, let me know which you go for :)

[@AllahBoinkedMe]

I've had a Huion 16 Pro (1080p) for a couple years now and still luv it. Thinking about moving to 16" 2.5k but in no real rush. Huion has a very good reputation overall and my experience mirrors that. Best of Luck!

[@SketchedbySte]

@@AllahBoinkedMe great to know. Does it all still work perfectly after those years? as mentioned in the video, my Wacom must be 8-10 years old and works well, so I was hoping the Huion might be the same, although it may be wishful thinking considering the price difference, time will tell!

[@AllahBoinkedMe]

@@SketchedbySte Yes, the Huion 16 Pro continues to work flawlessly (purchased in late 2019 (wow time flies)). Caveat: I'm far from an expert on such things .. but I'm thrilled with the 16 Pro .. as I eyeball a 4K variant as a not too distant future b'day gift. :) Enjoy!

[@nasolex5737]

@@AllahBoinkedMe thanks I bought huion 16

[@riggerdgenxron1402]

I've an old GTX 1060 3gb graphics card, can I use this model for digital sculpting without any lag with this card? my main concern is will my card be able to pull off 2.5k without any lag? kindly reply.

[@SketchedbySte]

Hey thanks for commenting. Unfortunately I don't know enough about computer specs and hardware to give you an accurate answer. I did however, ask a friend when I got mine, a similar question, and he seemed to think running 2.5k resolution screen shouldn't really be much more taxing then a standard full HD / 1080p. So if I had to guess it would be okay, but don't take my word for it, it would be worth sending Huion a message to ask them, just to be on the safe side! Do let me know how it goes

[@aimifathiha8420]

hai im from Malaysia who design textile design, on big scale design, normally i create design artboard scale 114cm x 114 cm with 150dpi, and normally i will use 100-300 layers in photoshop. I wonder the performance for the Huion kamvas with this kind of woring. does the performance still smooth same as photoshop on imac.

[@SketchedbySte]

Hey, if I am understanding the question correctly, I think the performance of the program such as how well it handles multiple layers etc is more down to the computer / mac specs that you are using ( I would imagine RAM memory plays a big role ) the tablet itself is not a stand alone device, it plugs into your computer / mac. So if your current device can handle that many layers without any problem, plugging a HUION kamvas drawing tablet it shouldn't make any difference to that. Hopefully someone will correct me if I am wrong. Thanks for watching!

[@aimifathiha8420]

@@SketchedbySte ahaa, isee... now i get it, thank you for the reply. really appreciate it

[@Charlytonight]

ITS DIFICULT TO EXPLAIN. But thank you. I Love Wacom for that.

[@SketchedbySte]

Wacom are definitely a top brand, no doubt! Shame about the big price tag though!

[@elsevillaart]

Clearly you have installed bad the driver of the huion, it shows in your pressure, clik on diagnosis then click to repair the wintab and windows ink options.

[@SketchedbySte]

Hey, sorry I completely missed this! Are you sure it's a bad driver? mine has been reinstalled a few times when I was testing things for this video, and i spoke to huion etc and they just said it was the limitation of the hardware ( if you are refering to my super light hand / strokes ) thanks for watching

[@courtneyboynton2745]

Do you have to plug it into a computer or can you just plug it into the wall?

[@SketchedbySte]

Hey, yeah you will need a device / computer to plug this tablet in to (or a laptop) like most graphics tablets with the exception of wacom mobile studio pros ( which are super expensive! ) or Ipads. I just checked and Huion do actually have a standalone device too I think it's the 'Huion Kamvas studio' hope that helps

[@SamprazDoodles]

What's the point of you getting both of these items. They're both about the same size. 🤔

[@SketchedbySte]

because I wanted a slightly larger screen size with higher resolution plus after having my Wacom for 8-10 years the buttons were getting stiff and I felt it had been long enough to warrant an 'upgrade' or to at least try something new. I had heard good things about the Huion and wanted to give it a go.

[@SamprazDoodles]

@@SketchedbySte o ok. Congratulations on the purchase. I'm surprised that the huion product has a higher res screen. I love my kamvas 22 plus. I never had a Wacom product before but I don't feel the need to switch over. Huion is King 👑👑👑👑 🤑🤑🤑💰

[@SketchedbySte]

@@SamprazDoodles yeah if you've never used a Wacom and you're happy on Huion then there isn't any reason to swap. I was tempted by the 22 inch Huion Kamvas, as I would have liked to go a touch larger than the 16 inch screen, but my desk doesn't fit any more on. There always seems to bee a big jump with screen tablets from 16 inch to 22-24 inch, I would love to get a 18-19 inch screen or something similar, but I can't complain!